AROUND THE NATION

Published 6:30 am, Tuesday, January 17, 2006

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Committee to vote on Alito Jan. 24

WASHINGTON - The
Senate Judiciary Committee
will vote on Judge
Samuel Alito
's nomination to the
Supreme Court
on Jan. 24, officials announced Monday night, and the full Senate will begin debate the following day. In a written statement, Senate Majority Leader
Bill Frist
said he looks forward to a "fair up-or-down vote" swiftly on Alito, President Bush's choice to succeed retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Alito, 55, an appeals court judge, is assured of approval in the committee, where all 10 Republicans have indicated their support. Prospects for confirmation in the full Senate are strong, as well.

Democrats
have not yet ruled out mounting a filibuster to delay or prevent a final vote. But that appears increasingly unlikely in the wake of Alito's testimony at confirmation hearings last week.

NEW YORK

Tanker spills gas on busy highway

NEW YORK - A tanker truck carrying thousands of gallons of gasoline overturned and caught fire on a major highway here Monday, blocking traffic and interrupting service on a subway line. A tower of dense smoke could be seen for miles. The driver was able to escape with minor injuries and no one else was hurt when the Mobil truck overturned around midday on the six-lane Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, said Jim Tuller, a police chief for the borough of Queens. "The driver appeared to lose control and the truck flipped over," he said.

WEST VIRGINIA

Interviews to start in mine disaster

CHARLESTON - Federal and state investigators looking into the

Sago Mine
disaster plan to begin privately interviewing miners, coal company officials and inspectors today. The mine where 12 men died is still being purged of deadly gases, and investigators will probably not be able to enter for at least a few more days, federal
Mine Safety and Health Administration
spokesman
Dirk Fillpot
said Monday. The interviews will be conducted at a courthouse in Clarksburg by officials with MSHA and the state
Office of Miners
' Health Safety and Training.

FLORIDA

Teen to undergo examination

FORT LAUDERDALE - A judge Monday ordered a psychological examination for one of two teens arrested in the fatal beating of a homeless man and a second beating that was videotaped by a surveillance camera.
Brian Hooks
, 18, and
Thomas Daugherty
, 17, face murder charges in the death of
Norris Gaynor
, 45, and aggravated battery charges in the videotaped beating of
Jacques Pierre
, 58. Circuit Judge
Steven DeLuca
ordered Daugherty to be held for 21 days in juvenile custody and to undergo a psychological examination. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to charge Daugherty as a juvenile or an adult. A hearing for Hooks was delayed until today. A third suspect,
William Ammons
, 18, was arrested late Monday and charged with one count of aggravated battery.